10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 69,084 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
When slowing for a red light the transmission slams into the lower gear..usually 4 to 3rd, but not always in that gear. Dealer said it was a problem in all the transmissions., but will not do anything about it. Dealer did replace a throttle body before warranty ran out. Problem has recurred and now the transmission is slipping in the gears. This is a major issue. Just google this problem and see what pops up.
- Ranger, GA, USA
When slowing for a red light the transmission slams into the lower gear..usually 4 to 3rd, but not always in that gear. Dealer said it was a problem in all the transmissions., but will not do anything about it. Dealer did replace a throttle body before warranty ran out. Problem has recurred and now the transmission is slipping in the gears. This is a major issue. Just google this problem and see what pops up.
- Ranger, GA, USA
I currently own a 2005 VW Beetle with 56,000 miles on it. I'm having transmission problems that have put my life in danger. When the transmission shifts from gear to gear there is a long delay in between, this then makes the engine rev to high RPM's. once it reaches a high RPM it'll engage the next gear cause the car to jump. When the gear drops into a high RPM it also causes the tires to slip and skid as well as making the car hard to steer. Most of the time it will get stuck in between gears which makes the car in neutral even though it's in drive. I have been stuck in the middle of the highway do to the transmission not changing into gear. I have taken my car into VW service center and they have told me it's because of low transmission fluid and a bad valve body. These two problems alone cost over 2,000 dollars. VW claims to have a closed transmission that does not needs service, but my Beetle having 56,000 miles on it needs all these work done. They are still not completely positive if that will fix the problem. VW needs to fix this defective transmission that has caused thousands of Beetle owners to put their life in danger and other life's in danger. VW making Beetle owners pay for repairs on a defective transmission is not acceptable. They need to fix the problem because they produced a dangerous and unsafe product.
- Fuquay Varina, NC, USA
Component: Power train:automatic transmission details: Issue has not yet caused an accident but will. Volkswagen Beetle, 2005 model with fewer than $57,00 miles. Transmission failing causing hard shifting and slipping gears resulting in car lurching and pausing unexpectedly. From my investigation this is a very common problem with the new Beetle, one that VW will not admit nor correct. I have been researching this issue for some time finding that there is no question as to whether a new Beetle owner will have transmission problems rather when the problem will begin. While I have not been able to determine how many if any accidents have been caused by this issue I do know there is a great concern amongst these vehicle owners that accidents will occur. VW should be forced to recall all vehicles that use these 6 speed automatic transmissions and correct this problem.
- Belleview, FL, USA
My 2005 VW new Beetle convertible with triptonic transmission, with only 68,300 miles, lurches in the lower gears after the car warms up after about 10 minutes. The car will not shift smoothly between the lower gears and often revs up to 5000 RPM before it "slams" into higher gear. I'm afraid to go on any highways with this - what happens if it get stuck in gear and I can't stop?
- Locust Grove, VA, USA
Our son began having transmission jerking on his automatic 2005 Volkswagen Beetle around 75,000 miles. The shifting can be so severe as if the car had been hit from behind. When taken back to the dealer, we were told that the transmission is never checked because it is completely encased and the fluid is never checked when serviced. We were told it would be about $5000. To repair.
- Fenton, MO, USA
2005 VW Beetle with major transmission problems. The tranny will not shift on time and when it does it jerks the car. It will also stall during acceleration and leaves me stranded in the middle of the intersection. This is a safety issue as the car will not move when you need it too. The issue seems to get worse more and more.
- Atlanta, GA, USA
2005 Volkswagen Beetle convertible automatic has trouble going from first gear to second gear around 20mph. Jerks hard when changing gears and sometimes makes a loud noise and does not change gears. Which causes the car to stall at times. Other times it stays stuck between gears and I have to pull over and wait a few minutes before I can start driving again.
- Kansas City, MO, USA
2005 VW Beetle began having shifting issues. Check engine light came on and I took it to driver's edge. Codes from computer were sensor related and tune up needed. I paid for the tune up and the next week I took to VW due to hard shifting. Code was cleared so they said there was no problem. I still had issues so I returned the car then suddenly I needed a new transmission. My car only has 77K so I thought $6000 was extreme. Started looking into the issue and apparently it's a common problem. Previous code on car was ignition coil so I don't understand how it went from a possible recall issue to needing a whole new transmission.
- Plano, TX, USA
2005 new Beetle convertible transmission started shifting hard at around 56,000 miles. Every once in a while it would slip out of gear. Had a sensor replaced. That helped some but now it is slipping out of gear again - everyday. I have read several complaints on this. Why hasn't VW been made to correct these issues?
- Buena Vista, GA, USA
Lurching in shift of automatic transmission. We bought an off lease convertible 05 new Beetle. It drove fine at first but we continually noticed a lurching or bucking shifting between first and second. This occurred after about 10 minutes of driving. After looking up the issue on the internet we found it to be a common problem. We were just out of the monthly warranty but under the mileage warranty. We took it to our certified VW mechanic and he said we needed a new transmission after doing a drain and fill. We contacted VW and they said we needed a dealership diagnosis for them to get involved. The dealership said we needed a new transmission. VW offered a goodwill remedy of $1000 off a new Beetle. We took it to a transmission specialty shop and they fixed the vehicle with an aftermarket throttlebody kit with a total cost of $1025. The kit they used addressed the problem of the shift pressure. I don't believe the old part is available. So far no problems.
- Hudsonville, MI, USA
I bought a 2005 VW Beetle with 50,000 miles on it. It drove great until about 70,000+ miles when it starting hard shifting. It is hard shifting when gearing up from 2nd to 3rd and when it gears down from 4th to 3rd. It happens everytime I drive the car.
- Huntersville, NC, USA
The transmission on my 2005 VW new Beetle gls tdi failed. The auto shop cannot find an external cause for the failure. They say the flywheel "exploded" the internal part of the transmission and even broke the transmission case open. There were no warning signs prior to the failure in terms of noises or performance. The car has only 86,000 miles on it and is driven mainly on the highway. I am having the car repaired at a cost of about $6,500. Despite numerous complaints by other customers, VW has not yet recalled this car, but definitely should!
- St Francis, MN, USA
My parents purchased a 2005 new Beetle from Volkswagen for me when I got my permit in 2006. The transmission is now failing. I was told it would cost over $6000 to replace. It shifts hard and jerkily. Upset about this problem I did some research online and discovered I am not alone in this problem. I found many other drivers with the same complaint at this website: townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.F124D77/0. if this is such a common issue why is there no recall" I am afraid to drive my car to school because I am afraid of it failing while on the freeway with all the fast moving cars. I'm in college and cannot afford to replace my transmission. I don't understand why Volkswagen hasn't recalled this. Is it because they don't want to have to pay to fix all of our cars that they built poorly" I don't think it's my fault that they built an inferior product. Thank you for your time.
- Escalon, CA, USA
I purchased my vehicle from Volkswagen around August of 2008. My car began to show signs of transmission failure shortly after my check engine light came on, I took it to the dealer while under warranty and they stated it was nothing. It began to get worse but they assured me I just need to get my transmission serviced and I did. It began gradually from skipping gears to jumping into neutral and losing power while driving. The failure occurs very often now. I cannot drive my car for more than 15 minutes without being stranded on the side of the road for a short period. I noticed that as soon as the transmission warms up from driving, the transmission goes into neutral. I began doing some research into this problem and noticed that this is common problem with Volkswagen Beetles transmission, which resulted in a recall. I have a 6 speed transmission and the same symptoms take place. We have looked for quotes on replacement of sensors, rebuilt transmissions, but we are still trying to figure out what it may be because transmission work is really expensive. Something needs to be done about this!!!
- Palmdale, CA, USA
My 2005 VW new Beetle convertible with triptonic transmission, with only 56,300 miles, lurches in the lower gears after the car warms up after about 10 minutes. The car will not shift smoothly between the lower gears and often revs up to 5000 RPM before it "slams" into higher gear. VW dealership in Oklahoma city asserts "we can replicate the problem". please help!
- Stillwater, OK, USA
I am an original owner of a 2005 VW Beetle. Started noticing the transmission, hesitating and slamming into gear, mainly with 3rd and 4th gear. The problem is worsening, now at 75,000 miles I either need a new transmission or at minimum, a new flywheel. I have seen thousands of the same complaints and feel this is a defect.
- Carson City , NV, USA
2005 VW Beetle convertible transmission. Cars slips from 2nd to 3rd. Jerks hard, complaint to VW, was told this was normal. RPM's suddenly escalate while in constant gear to 4000 RPM and then level off while already in that gear for long periods of time, also will happen while on cruise. Stops are rough and starts are the same. 6 speed triptronic. Lucky not in accident as of yet because of delays in shifting. Will need a new transmission at 82,000 started acting up around 60,000.
- Bella Vista, CA, USA
2005 VW Beetle with transmission problems, wiring problems and lighting problems. Seems like this is in a lot of Beetles that are on the road. Transmission failed at 80,000 miles... this is an ongoing problem and the VW company seems not to care. Since car bought multiple problems, which VW has fixed most of them. The lighting harness melted together on the right and left front sides, this was concern of mine. Why"??", the transmission failed... without warning.. took it in for 80,000 mile service paid $600 and then transmission fails. I don't understand. But I feel like there needs to be a proper investigation into the ongoing problems..... my brakes have failed to work in reverse 3 times now and this is scary.... I finally get stopped and then have to pump brakes. Nothing wrong with them so far when taking into VW dealer.
- Goodwater, AL, USA
- League City, TX, USA